“You don’t develop heart disease because your body makes too much LDL. You develop heart disease because your body makes the wrong kind of LDL.
When your coronary arteries become damaged or inflamed, LDL shows up to repair the damage. But if your body is producing LDL that’s small and dense, then those particles can become embedded in your arteries and trigger the formation of a plaque.
Here are a couple of quotes from studies on LDL particle size and heart disease:
LDL particles showed the strongest association with cardiovascular events when the particle composition, rather than the total concentration, was investigated.
The LDL subclass pattern characterized by a preponderance of small, dense LDL particles was significantly associated with a threefold increased risk of myocardial infarction.
Large, fluffy LDL isn’t the kind that becomes embedded in your arteries. In fact, large LDL not only won’t kill you, it appears to be protective.
People who produce a lot of large LDL are less likely to develop cancer. They’re less likely to become depressed. They’re less likely to come down with nasty infections.
And that’s why a number of studies have shown that older people with high LDL Live longer than older people with low LDL.”
